School garden project takes shape

Left to right: Dan Wrench, Joshua Lewis, Amanda Crane, Riley-Cole Holloway, Ian Horton, Chris Huss (head teacher), Kayla Dixon, Lennon Griffiths.

Shrewsbury pupils and teachers are beginning to see the fruit of their labour as their latest project to enhance their school’s outdoor environment takes shape.

Students and staff from The Wilfred Owen Primary School in Monkmoor have been working with Shropshire Council’s natural environment team to create new wildflower gardens in the school grounds.

The school’s Headteacher, Chris Huss, has shown a real enthusiasm for improving the school sit,e and is beginning to see the latest long-term project show promising signs.

The school recently received 20 tonnes of soil from Llynclys quarry – free of charge thanks to Tarmac Lafarge – as wildflowers had been colonising piles of soil rapidly at the quarry.

Wild strawberries have been spotted growing in the soil, along with some more uncommon species of wildflower like the native Goldenrod.

Dan Wrench, Shropshire Council’s bio-diversity expert, visited the school recently and was greeted by the school’s gardening club – who jumped at the chance to learn more about what was going on in their backyard.

Dan told them about the more rare flowers that were growing, and about what they were hoping to see appear later in the year.

Dan Wrench said:

“It’s great to see such early success for this project to create a unique habitat and also see how enthusiastic both children and staff are for improving their school grounds for wildlife.  Such initiatives make a big difference for wildlife in Shropshire.”

Chris Huss said:

“We are really pleased to see such early results here.  Our meadow is beginning to thrive and the children are really excited by the prospect of having this on our site.”

The inquisitive children were interested to see what was growing, asking Dan what every plant they saw was.  When Dan appeared to have an answer for everything, one child asked: “How do you know all this?” A fellow pupil quickly responded: “Because he is a grown up.”

Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services – transformation and safeguarding, said:

“It’s encouraging to see the school take on these projects as they give the pupils the opportunity to see and experience nature firsthand at school, helping their learning and development.”

Last summer the school laid freshly cut green hay from Rea Brook Nature Reserve to induce the growth of native wildflowers.  This was the first time this technique, which has worked well in areas such as Venus Pool Nature Reserve, had been used in this way locally.